Okay the latest is Brian Grant refuses to go to Cleveland… http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/index.ssf?/sports/oregonian/00/08/sp_63blaz04.frame Portland doesn’t want him any more… Cleveland desperately wants to dump Shawn Kemps salary… New york has offered to help but Cleveland doesn’t want Marcus Camby’s bad knees and contract… So in steps Houston and our trade exception… Portland gets Shawn Kemp… Houston gets Brian Grant and Cleveland gets to Dump about 60 million dollars worth of salary and pick up a trade exception a 1st round draft pick (we might have to give up both) plus they get some combination of Drew, Rogers, W.Williams and KT… Portland wants Kemp so they would go for it. Cleveland might go for it since their main concern is dumping salary… And I think Rudy would definitely go for it... Our new Roster would look like this… C- Olajuwon, Cato PF- Grant, Collier. Kt or Rogers SF- Langhi, Mid level exception or Walt williams , Bullard SG- Shandon, Cuttino PG- Francis, Moochie Not Bad! What do you think? ------------------
I love Grant, and think he would be a great fit on the Rockets. His work ethic, hustle, rebounding, etc. would be perfect on this team. But, at best Grant is a 15/10 type player. That is not worth the Max salary, which is what he wants, so I would rather pass on him. If we are going to tie up our cap for years and commit the Max to someone, I want it to be a superstar that paired with Francis can make us contend. As much as I like Grant, he isn't to that level and never will be. ------------------ Looking for next year's Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net Vote in the 64 player 1 on 1 NBA Tournament! http://bbs.clutchcity.net/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000958.html
Cleveland's never said they were trying to cut cap. They wanted to take on a maxed out Brian Grant. ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas.
NIKE, Grant maxed out would only be around $10mil/year. This year Kemp makes around $11.5mil. For the 2001 season Kemp will make around $20mil and $25mil the next year. Now perhaps you can see their desparation to get rid of him now while they still have a chance at matching salaries w/ another team. Cleveland is in for some serious luxury tax, considering what a horrible team they will be. Excuse my vague salary listings but I don't have time to research. ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight
To Mr. Nikestrad Maybe not, but what they have been reported as saying is that they want to get rid of Kemps salary which has 4 more years on it at $71 million and balloons to $20 + million the last 2years and which will force them to pay a luxury tax penalty. Which they definitely want to avoid. Brian Grants contract was for more money over more years. But never did it exceed 20 mil in one season. And year for year for the next four years it will probably be about 25 million cheaper so maybe that's not dumping salary but it sure is cutting back. ------------------
Trading down 1.5 million will not solve their issues, and they DO want value for Kemp. Walt Williams, Carlos Rogers, Drew, and KT are not exactly great players. Didn't Brian Grant say he wants to win? It's a very fat chance that he accepts a trade to a lottery team. ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas.
Grant not worth the MAX? This ridiculous! WHO are we going to pay the MAX next summer? Webber? He won´t come here. Mutombo and Finley? They are both useless to us. and POOF! There goes next year´s premier free agents. i say he IS worth it. A young and capable player, we would have our team for a decade to come! now if only we could ger rashard in the future, we could be talking DINASTY here! ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
Let me begin by saying that I *seriously* doubt Houston has a chance to acquire Brian Grant. That said, if such a possibility exists, I think the Rockets should take it. Grant is one of the best rebounders in the NBA, and from I've seen, one of the best defenders. The work he did on O'Neill was terrific. He may not have a great deal of offensive game, but he does have a couple moves, and from what I've seen, his jumper isn't too bad. My main concern is actually his age and susceptibility to injuries. Just as the rest of our team is peaking, he may very well begin to decline. But, then, I think Thanos has an excellent point when he says that our chances of getting Webber are negligible, so getting Brian Grant really wouldn't cause us to miss out on much. In this situation, you'd have to weigh the certainty of possessing Grant against the meager possibility of getting Webber. That isn't a tough decision for me... Grant. ------------------ The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001.
Exactly, Haven! And i also agree that it´s highly unlikely that we can get our hands on Grant, but it just drives me nuts that someone would dismiss the idea of doing it if possible! He is the best PF that could be within our reach, make no mistake about it! ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
Webber is the best PF that could be within the Rockets reach. ------------------ I am so exasperated that I could expectorate.
I think everynoe is making the same mistake that Chicago almost made. Just because there is no one else to take your money this year, it doesn't mean that something better won't come along next year. Grant is an excellent player and has tremendous character. But do we want to commit 7 years and $92 million to him. What happens in a couple of years when Carter & Odom enter FA. WOuldn't you be sorry that Grant is eating up 25% of your cap. I think you would. Remember people, we are thinking long term. You don't win chamionship..S with band aids. ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight [This message has been edited by Rocketsauce (edited August 04, 2000).]
Yeah sure. Webber is only a free agent NEXT year, and he NEVER, EVER whispered a WORD about Houston. He is going to Miami, Detroit or NY. count on it. It would be foolish to waste an opportunity like grabbing Grant EVEN if we had a commitment from someone as unrealiable as Webber is, and we don´t have even THAT! This is not Fantasy GM, folks, wake up! ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
My friend, there is only ONE thing that Chicago as really proven this year: Having TONS of capspace does not guarantee ANY premier free agent signings. It just too stupid a gamble to take, waiting an entire year for Webber to just lose him to Miami. I mean, if you were Webber, woul you prefer to play with Mourning and Jones or Shandon, Mobley and Steve? Let´s face it, it´s just no contest. ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
Yeah sure. Grant NEVER, EVER whispered a WORD about Houston. He is not going to Houston. count on it. It would be foolish to waste an the max on Grant. He is often injured, and EVEN when he has been healthy he hasn't been worth the max. ------------------ I am so exasperated that I could expectorate.
and if I were Webber, yes , I would prefer to play with Steve, Shandon and Cuttino. ------------------ I am so exasperated that I could expectorate.
You are lying thanos, you already had those cracks on your chin. ------------------ I am so exasperated that I could expectorate.
Just a thought: He never mentioned Cleveland either, but when the idea surfaced, he gave it consideration. And look at what a pile of crap (Andre Miller excluded, of course) their roster is! ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
Well, I think he would also like to play with Steve, Cuttino and Shandon as he loves playing with J Williams and Steve is similar but about 100X as good. But I would gamble on Grant. Chicago has proved that just cause you have money doesnt mean youre going to get somebody. And trust me, Rudy is not going to go through mediocre year after mediocre year until there is a FA class good enough so that we can actually land a solid player. We are saving cap space for next year and next year alone. And the fact is that next years FA crop sucks with the exception of Webber. IF there weas say a 70% chance of us getting Webber, I would hold off (maybe even 65%, cause that is still pretty good) but otherwise I would go with Grant. Now I dont think it is all about the money for Grant and there is no way the Rockets would offer him 92 million over 7 years. SOmething closer to the original 4 years 40 million is alright though. Also, Houston is not Cleveland. We have a much brighter future than theirs, IMO, but no, we will not be in contention for a few years. I think if Grant said yes, Rudy would do this deal. He is RUdy's type of player, no doubt about it. ------------------ Jackie Treehorn treats objects like women!
I think that if the Rockets made a trade for a young center or small forward with some upside, that doesn't have a big salary & they were able to blend them into the team chemistry, while winning more games, that Webber might see himself as the final piece to push the Rockets over the top. I'm assuming in this post that the Kings struggle this year & Jason Williams continues getting high & destroys his career. That might give us a chance at getting him. I do not pretend to know what his decision will be next year, however I do believe that we need to make the moves that keep us moving forward long term. Even if he decides to go to another team, we will still have improved over the previous year. At the very least we will have the cap space to pursue trades with teams that need to dump salaries & might be willing to give up a player or two that we need. Free agents & draft picks are not the only options here. Look at the young players that the Clipps got from Orlando. I would love to have been in a position to get Maggette. My point is that I agree with Rocketsauce, While Grant is a solid player, do we really want to pay him so much money, & limit our options for next year when we will be in a position to take on more salary? ------------------
